Box with attached handles



April 1951 s. BERGSTEIN BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLES 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Original Filed Mav 18, 1944 INVENTOR.

. \JZWI/EL .Zqwsrzxm BY Qubw I 1% April 10, 1951 s. BERGSTEIN BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 18, 1944 INVENTOR. 34M05 B ERGSTEIN allo 1 wag Patented Apr. 10, 1951 BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLES Samuel Bergstein, Cincinnati, Ohio Original application May 18, 1944, Serial No. 536,182. Divided and this application August 3, 1946, Serial N0. 688,283 1 7 Claims.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 536,182, filed May 18, 1944, entitled Mechanisms and Method for Making Boxes with Attached Handles.

My invention relates, in the specific embodiment hereinafter described, to a one piece type of box, which can be shipped fiat or in knocked down form, and can be erected readily for packing by the user. It is an object of my invention -to produce a box of the character noted which will provide both a bottom and lid, having front and side walls, said walls being joined at corners. where they meet, the box being provided with handles to permit it to be readily and easily carried.

There have been attempts to solve the problem of providing a handle box for use by department. stores, womens specialty shops, etc. Many such attempts in the past involved the use of separate handles in one form or another, which had to be attached by the sales clerk after the garment was packed. This not only caused-a considerable loss of time, but involved the problems of handling separate boxes and handles.

Another approach to this problem in the past practice has been through the use of various cutouts or cutaway portions from the box itself, to form a handle. One of the defects of this approach is that such cutouts both disfigure the box, spoiling its appearance, and lessen the structural strength of the box. Another defect is that the boxes known in the trade customarily as suit or clothing boxes are made normally from boxboard containing a high percentage of waste paper, which lacks any considerable degree of tearing strength. Accordingly, such cutout handles, being no stronger than the board of the box itself, tear very readily and have proved decidedly troublesome.

By my invention as herein described these difficulties are overcome. My box is provided with handles formed of separate pieces of stock; so that'- there is no disfigurement or loss of strength or cutting away of the box itself. Furthermore, since my handles are made of separate pieces of stock, the stock used in the handles can-be of solid kraft board or other board of superior quality and strength, if desired, thus providing tear resistance. This is achieved economically, since the higher grade stock is used for the handle portion alone, the remainder of the box beingmade from the ordinary grades of boxboard customarily used by the trade; 7 Again, the handles are secured to the box asan integral part 2 thereof, in. the. form in which. the:box is delivered to the store, so that" there are no extra pieces to cause inconvenience or loss of time. The handles do not require any setting up operations, and the structure is a single complete unit ready for packing and carrying. Yet again; the handles are secured to the main. body walls rather than to the end panels: of the box, providing. the high;- est degree of security against separation, and resisting any peeling. or tearing. action, so that there-is a sturdy and dependable grip on the box, providing a safe carrier.

My invention can be used: in connection with the machines described in my PatentNo. 2,149;- 1l1 issued February 28, 1939, and in. conjunction with the mechanism and methods" described in my patents, No. 1,926,364 issued September 12', 1933, and No. 1,974,408i's's'ued September 25', 1934. It is also particularly adapted for use with-the method and mechanism described in my Pat'- ent No. 2,145,682 issued January 31', 1939, having' to do with a reinforced; one: piece box;

While I shall describe my invention in the exemplary embodiments aforesaid", it wil l b'e'evident upon reading these specifications that the principles of my' invention are applicable to the problems of attaching handles or other-fixtures to other typesof boxes; I

The main objects of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing; andthese, as well as more specific objects which will be set forth hereinafter or will be understood by the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by those: structures of which I shall now" describe certain exemplary'embodi ments.

Reference is'made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. I is a perspective of a preferred type. of I one piece box in knocked down form for ship'- ment.

Figures 1a to 1' are. plan views" showing. the box blank and the successive stages of: manufac ture'withthe initial and secondary directions of movement imparted to the blank, including'the stages at which a reinforcing element and handle structures are added. to: the blank.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective viewrshowing the box in semi-erected position.

Fig. 2a is a perspective view of the handle blank; i

Figure 2b is a section offthe handleblank on the-line 2b2b of Figure 2a.

Figure 3c is a partial end view or the. box of Figure ?"-with the handles in carrying position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another style of box, partly erected, and including the pair of attached handles and a reinforcement.

Figures 4a to 4d show in plan the blank and the successive stages of manufacture of the box of Figure 4.

Figure la shows a blank for a preferred form of box, prior to the folding and gluing of the blank and prior to the application of the handles. There is a main bottom panel 1, having side panels 2, 2, a well 3, which for convenience will be called a front wall, and a wall 4, which for convenience will be called a back wall. Articulated to this back wall is the main body panel 5 of the lid, said lid having side walls 6, 6 and-a lid front wall 1.

Extending laterally from the front wall panel of the box bottom portion are the corner sustaining flaps 8, 8 and like corner sustaining flaps 9, 9 extend laterally from the lid front wall panel. The side panels2, 2 have diagonally scored portions 2a, and the side panels 5, 6 have like portions 6a, 6a.

Between the side wall panels of the lid and bottom portions of the blank are intermediate corner connecting sections having diagonal lines of fold therein. They may be described as having a medium portion H], with triangular sections H, H and I2, I2 articulated by diagonal fold lines to the median portionand to the respective side walls by a fold line normal to their length.

The successive stages of folding as illustrated in lo, lb, 10, Id and I are preferably as carried out by my patents previously referred to in which flaps 2a and 6a are first turned under as shown in Fig. 1b, then the entire side walls 2 and 6 with the connecting portions In, H, l'2 are turned over inwardly, as well as flaps 8 and 9 as shown in Fig. 1c. Thereupon there occurs a change of direction of motion of the blank as shown in Fig. 1d, and during this second motion adhesive will be applied to the blank. The adhesive for forming the knocked down box structure as such may be applied to the flaps 8 and 9 as shown in stippling in Fig. 1d; or it could be applied to the turned over triangular portions 2a and 6a..

In my Patent No. 2,145,682 I have taught a mechanism for applying a reinforcement to the back wall 4 of the blank at the next illustrated stage, and where this is done, adhesive may also be applied as at 411 to the back wall 4 at the stage Id.

In the stage illustrated in Fig. 1e the reinforcement l2 has been applied to the back wall, as taught in my said patent. In the next stage, the walls 3 and I together with their folded flaps 8 and 9 are turned inwardly as shown in Fig. if to complete the knocked down box'assuch.

However, in my present invention at the stage shown in Fig. 1e, separate die-cut handles 14, I4 are fastened at the position indicated in the drawing to both the bottom wall I and lid wall 5, and as shown in the next stage, Fig. 1f, the parts of these handle extending beyond these bottom and lid walls, that is, the handle portions underlying the end walls 3 and I are folded over with the end walls. Pressure is subsequently applied to secure adhesion between the diagonally scored portions 2a and the corner sustaining flaps 8-8 as well as to augmentthe adhesion between the pair of handles and the box blank, the completed box in knocked down form collapsed ready for shipment appearing as illustrated in my p ferred form in Fig. 1. It should be noted that part of each handle is secured to the 01113 3 3- face of the main body walls of the box, while the extending or actual carrying portion of each handle is folded over to over-lie the end walls. the handle attached box in knocked down form thereby coming within the same overall dimensions as an ordinary box without handles. It is also apparent that my process preferably involves a partial folding of the blank, then the application of the handlesand thereafter the completion of the folding operations.

Figure 2a is a drawing of the handle blank itself. As shown, it includes the glue flap 14a, and the handle flap itself 142), which are articulated to each other. In the flap portion MD, a hand hole flap Me is demarked by a line of severance and a crease or score line as shown so that when a pair of handles are brought together in proper carrying position, the flaps I40 are free to swing along the core to either side, providing a space for the hand, and both an interlocking and a cushion effect so that there are no sharp exposed edges to cause inconvenience. This will be clear from Figs. 2b, 3, and 3a.

Fig. 2 illustrates the preferred form of the box in partly erected condition. As the side walls 2, 2 are raised, the intermediate corner connection section as well as the side walls of the lid 6, 6 are also brought into upright position, and

the raising of these side walls simultaneously causes the corner sustaining flaps 8, 8 and 9, 9 to swing into position against the main bottom and top panels of the box, as illustrated, serving to retain the box in upright position.

A the box is further closed, flap I41) of the handle which overlies the bottom wall 3, is also folded back from position adjacent the wall itself, so that the lid can be brought into closed. position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

This figure illustrates the box of Fig. 2 with the lid brought down into final closed position, and shows the handles extending outwardly from the box in carrying position. It may be noted that should it be desired to use the box without using the handles (as for example in shipping the filled container), the two handles can readily be left flush against the outer surface of the front lid wall 1, so that the box can as readily be tied or wrapped as if the handles were not present. Thusmy invention provides the maximum degree of flexibility in a store or other similar merchandising operation.

Fig. 3a is a partial end view of the box shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the hand hole flaps [4c are folded to one side giving clearance for a grip-and that the folding of these two flaps in the same direction, provides an interlock to retain the box in closed position during the time the handle is in use. Furthermore, the hand is not exposed to any out edge of the board, the rounded under surface produced by the score line providing a cushioning effect. Actual practice has also shown this handle arrangement to one of extreme durability, because the parts [4a, of the handles, are secured to the main body walls of the box rather than to the end walls. Thus there is no peeling or tearing action, and a box carriedas shown in Fig. 3a, even with heavy contents, will readily withstand jostling and abuse, etc., such as is likely to be encountered in crowded subways and trains.

Fig. 4 shows another style of box in which certain walls are not infolded, and the corner flaps do not act as wall-sustaining flaps. Figs. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d illustrate the successive steps of the 1 folding and gluing of thi$ D93, showing in stages diagonal scorelines to which they are articulated to the walls 2 and the flaps 6b and to on the diagonal lines on which theyiarearticulated; to the Wallet; This is shown in Fig. 4b. Next adhesive may be applied tothe blank on the stippled areas, as shown in Fig. 4c. The box as such is completed in knocked down condition by the inward folding of the walls 3 and 1, asshown in Fig. 4d.- The reinforcing strip [3 is also applied, in the preferred operation, to the adhesive area on wall 4; and in the practice of my invention, the handles I4 are applied and adhered to the walls I and 5 as shown in Fig. 4c and turned over with the walls 3 and I as shown in Fig. 4d.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention, what I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle box having a pair of main panels adapted to lie vertically in spaced relation when the box is in erected carrying position, a pair of supplementary panels, one supplementary panel being articulated to each of the main panels along a score line, said supplementary panels being adapted to lie one over the other to form a top for the box when in erected carrying position, said box being in collapsed condition in which said main panels are co-planar and said supplementary panels are in infolded condition overlying said main panels, and a pair of discrete box-board handle members, each member having a portion adhesively secured to the outer surface of one of the main panels, and a free portion, in infolded condition overlying said supplementary panels, said free portions being of a length to cross the said top of the box, whereby said free portions may be brought together above the box top to form an upstanding handle.

2. A handle box having a pair of main panels adapted to lie vertically in spaced relation when the box is in erected carrying position, a pair of supplementary panels, one supplementary panel being articulated to each of the main panels along a score line, said supplementary panels being adapted to lie one over the other to form a top for the box When in erected carrying position, said box being in collapsed condition in which said main panels are co-planar and said supplementary panels are in infolded condition overlying said main panels, and pair of discrete boxboard handle members, each member having a portion adhesively secured to the outer surface of one of the main panels, and a free portion, in infolded condition overlying said supplementary panels, said free portions being bent. upwardly when said free portions are brought, together, one such flap passing through the hole in another of said handle members.

3. In a knock down, handle box, a main panel, a supplementary'panel in articulation therewith along a score line, a boxboard handle member having a portion in face-to-face adhesive union with the outer'surface of said mainpanel, a score line substantially coinciding with said first men.- tioned .score. line, and a free portion adapted to extend across said supplementary panel, said supplementary panel lying in folded condition over said main panel, and saidfree portion of said handle. member lying in folded condition over said supplementary panel.

4'. A one-piece, knocked down, handle box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall and a back wall in articulation and forming, in the knocked down structure, a single co-planar panel, said panel having in articulation with it side and end walls, connected at their ends, certain of said walls having diagonal fold lines therein permitting a knocked down condition in which said end walls overlie said panel, and separate die cut members adapted to serve as handles, portions of said members being secured to the outer surfaces of the front and the back walls respectively, adjacent to the lines of articulation of the said end walls, other portions of said members folded in to overlie said infolded end walls, but unsecured thereto.

5. A one-piece, knocked down, handle box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall and a back wall in articulation and forming, in the knocked down structure, a single co-planar panel, said panel having in articulation with it side and end walls, connected at their ends, certain of said walls having diagonal fold lines therein permitting a knocked down condition in which said end walls overlie said panel, and separate die cut members adapted to serve as handles, portions of said members being secured to the outer surfaces of the front and the back walls respectively, adjacent to the lines of articulation of the said end walls, other portions of said members folded in to overlie said infolded end walls, but unsecured thereto, whereby when said box is erected for packing and the end walls are brought into lapping position, the unattached portion of one of said unsecured handles is free to swing outwardly to permit the opposite wall to be brought down to closing position without obstruction and with both handles outside the now lapped end walls.

6. A one-piece, knocked down, handle box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall and a back wall in articulation and forming, in the knocked down structure, a single co-planar panel, said panel having in articulation with it side and end walls, connected at their ends, certain of said walls having diagonal fold lines therein permitting a knocked down condition in which said end walls overlie said panel, and separate die cut members adapted to serve as handles, portions of said members being secured to the outer surfaces of the front and the back walls respectively, adjacent to the lines of articulation of the said end walls, other portions of said members folded in to overlie said infolded end walls, but unsecured thereto, whereby when said box is erected for packing and the end walls brought into lapping position, the unattached portion of one of said unsecured handles is free to swing outwardly to permit the opposite wall to be brought down to closing position without obstruction and with both handles outside the now lapped end walls, said handles thereafter being adapted to interlock with each other to retain the box in closed position and perforated to provide a grip for carrying purposes.

7. A one-piece knock-down gox having top and bottom panels and end walls articulated thereto, the end walls of the top and bottom panels folded inwardly, and a pair of independent handle pieces, one of which has a portion secured to the main top panel adjacent to the line of articulation of its end wall, and an extension folded over said end wall but unsecured thereto, and the other of which has a portion secured to the main bottom panel adjacent to the line of articulation of its end wall, and an extension folded over said end wall but unsecured thereto.

7 SAMUEL BERGSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,104,392 Stone July 21, 1914 1,144,637 Campbell June 29, 1915 1,492,100 Krueger Apr. 29, 1924 1,718,298 Markman June 25, 1929 2,330,347 Elliott Sept. 28, 1943 2,397,880 Newman Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 766,777 France Apr. 23, 1934 

